Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Volume 5
Article 2
Number 1 Volume 5, No. 1: Spring 2012
Recommended Citation
Roberts, Mark. "Ataturk: Lessons in Leadership from the Greatest General of the Ottoman
Empire. By Austin Bay. (New York, N.Y.: Palgrave- McMillan, 2011)." Journal of Strategic
Security 5, no. 1 (2012): : 89-92.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.5.1.7
Available at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol5/iss1/2
This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the USF Libraries at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion
in Journal of Strategic Security by an authorized editor of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact
scholarcommons@usf.edu.
Roberts: Ataturk: Lessons in Leadership from the Greatest General of the O
This biography covers Ataturk's early life, military career, exploits during
WWI, and the days leading up to the founding of the modern Turkish
Republic. The fact that Bay left out Ataturk's leadership of modern Turkey
after founding the Republic is the book's biggest shortcoming. Mustafa
Kemal achieved just as much, if not more, as a civilian leader than as a
military one. The author mentions in passing his exploits as a civilian
leader: he abolished the caliphate, emancipated women, embraced West-
ern clothing, Latinized the Turkish alphabet, created a secular state, and
brought about a Western-style parliamentary democracy, all within a few
years. This passing mention cries out for more detail, but the focus of the
book remains exclusively on his military exploits.
Well-written and erudite, the book shows Ataturk deciding early in life to
pursue a military career, with all its honor, glory, and benefits. He saw the
Ottoman Empire's decline and the last caliphate (the "sick man of
Europe"), and studied myriad historical examples to halt this decay. At
the Turkish War College, he was exposed to European and Asian influ-
ences. Displaying ability and intelligence as a young cadet, he studied
Napoleon, guerrilla warfare, strategy, and tactics. Readings on the French
Revolution caused him to wonder if Muslim modernity might be better
attained through a more constructive type of Napoleonic figure. He saw
that newer technologies could help move Ottoman strategic goals for-
ward, but the Sultan did not want the infection of new, non-Muslim ideas
that would accompany such technology. Devouring these new ideas, espe-
cially European constitutionalism, Ataturk observed that enhanced cul-
tural awareness could bring about positive changes in the Ottoman
Empire and the Caliphate. Perhaps it should be noted that although a
good student with many virtues, he was not above the usual human vices;
Ataturk was both a drinker and womanizer.
90
http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol5/iss1/2
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.5.1.7
Roberts: Ataturk: Lessons in Leadership from the Greatest General of the O
Book Reviews
After WWI, the defeated Ottoman Empire seemed at the mercy of their
foes, the victorious British, French, Italians, Armenians, and Greeks. But
by astute political and military maneuvers, Ataturk harnessed Turkish
nationalism. With minimal forces, little money, and no diplomatic status,
he led the decimated Ottomans from disaster to an independent Turkish
state. Against Greek invaders and their British allies, he used the tele-
graph for operational communications and spreading propaganda, which
led to a political and cultural revolution and preserved Turkish territorial
integrity.
91
92
http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol5/iss1/2
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.5.1.7